The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-09-12
Rev. Duncan's Farewell Sermon.

One of the largest audiences ever assembled
in Hall-Place Church was that Of last night to
hear the farewell sermon Of the pastor, Rev. j.
W. Duncan. The discourse was specially ap
propriate to the occasion. Mr.. Duncan took
his text the words: Remember the word that
said unto YOU" John XIV, 20. Then Mr.. Duncan
said: These are the words of Christ in refer
ence to specified matter but are not inappro-
pirate when applied to all of his teaching.
'In closing my ministry with this church. he
continued, 1.-The three years allowed by the
polity of the church having elapsed, have
special desire to be remembered personally, but
do desire most earnestly that my teaching, so
far as it has been in keeping with The word of
God and the gospel of His Son, mar live when I
shall have gone from among you, and when I
shall have been laid in my grave.
More than eighteen centuries have
passed since the matchless Christ walked
upon our earth and looked into the faces Of His
followers. but His words OF light and love are
more potent to-day than at any time in the past.
know reason why the words of the faithful
minister of God should not live when he has
pass ed away. Some people seem more anxious
that they shall be remembered tnan that their
works shall be kept in rememb rance. In order
to perpetuate their name and fame they build
monuments and mausoleums. and establish
libraries and colleges; but if they do not this for
it avails but little; but the man who leaves
behind him a record of noble deeds, and Chris
tan character shall live on earth and in heaven
after the dissolution of the body. ask you not,
therefore to remember the pastor who has gone
in and out among you for three years of this
short life-one who has visited your sick. COM
forted your sorrowing, baptized your children
and buried your dead, but do ask that you
remember the words that said unto you while
1 was present with you.
This brings to brief review of my mi n
istry in your midst l came among you as
stranger-havng known but two or three per-
soEs In the church prior to my coming. was
received, not Al a stranger, but a friend and
brother. This was all the more appreciated,
because it was at time when the greatest sor-
row of my life was weighing heavily upon me.
The cordial treatment received made it easier
for me to live and labor among you However
wide the lines which separate us in the future,
the little church on Seventh street must ever live
1.-The first work of Christian minister, as I
believe, is to make mon and Christians If this
is not first in the work of ministers and mem
bers there is little to hope for either in this
world or the world TO come If fill the
churches with unconverted people and swell our
lists into the hundreds and thousands, only
clog the wheels of our effectiveness and put in
peril the souls Of the persons thus received into
our communion. 1t behooves any faithful min
lister of God, therefore, to reaffirm and reassert
the faithful teaching of Christ, that no man
can enter the kingdom of God without regen-
crate heart. The next step of the Methodist
pastor, as / believe, is to make good Methodsts.
Men thoroughly converted to righteousness
make good church mem bers-frst loyalty to
God, aud then loyalty to the church, whose
communion they enter. If to be
Methodsts, let be true to her doctrines and
polty; if Presbyterian, then let US be true to
that church. When you heaS a man say nave
no choice of churches, and think one is just as
good for me as the other-I am Baptist. but I
could be q Methodist just as weil-that man be-
trays his dsloyalty. The same ia true OF the
ministry, and if / represent not her distinctive
doctrines and economy. l am untrue to the
church to which am pledged. l expect when l
go to a Unitarian church to hear a Unitarian
preacher, and when go to a Baptist church to
hear Baptist preacher, and il they are not true
representatives of their churches, they are trait